Sonya Berky's son, Bryan, was killed while serving in Afghanistan four years ago, while Jerry and Ronna Jackson lost their son, also in Afghanistan, back in 2010.

Both families received nearly $100,000 in death benefits from the Pentagon, money used to help pay for funeral and burial expenses.

Like most Americans, both families say they find it absolutely appalling that -- for a time -- death benefits were suspended due to Washington's inability to find common ground.

"Just because they can't work together in Washington doesn't mean the families need to be punished," said Berky. "At no time should our fallen heroes be used as a political statement," said Ronna Jackson. "Under no circumstance."

Both families say they hope this is the final straw, and that the public outcry forces lawmakers to realize just how petty they are acting.